IRAN DESERT AND CULTURE (18 DAYS – 17 NIGHTS)
BASIC INFORMATION
Duration: 18 days trip – 17 nights
Start: Tehran, Iran
Finish: Tehran, Iran
Flight: Tehran – Kerman
Included meals: 18 Breakfasts, 0 Lunches, 0 Dinner
Accommodation grade: 3, 4, and 5-Star Hotels
Transport: Private Car, Van, A.C. Minibus, Bus, and 4-wheel Car
Internet: Free Wi-Fi in Vehicle and at the hote
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
» You will visit the most attractive deserts of Iran on this tour.
» You will visit the old caravansary in this Itinerary
» Discover Pasargadae and Persepolis, cities of the Achaemenid Empire that rank among the world’s greatest sites of antiquity.
» Come with us and experience the traditions in the old cities of Yazd, Natanz, and Kashan.
MAP
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival - Tehran
Arrive at Tehran airport, welcome by a Gashttour representative. Then transfer to hotel and rest. O/N Tehran.
Day 2: Tehran - Kerman
(01:35 Hours Distance by Plane)
After breakfast, we will visit Saad Abad Palace Complex which was the complex first built and inhabited by Qajar monarchs in the 19th century. After an expansion of the compounds, Reza Shah of the Pahlavi Dynasty lived there in the 1920s. Then, visit the Archaeological and Islamic Art Museums. The pre-Islam archaeological museum covers Persia’s history from the fifth millennium BC to 648 AD while the Islamic art museum provides a display of Islamic works of art. Then, toward the Golestan palace complex, which is a UNESCO heritage and dates from the 18th century AD. Eventually, in the evening, transfers to the airport and flies to Kerman. Meet and transfer to the hotel. O/N Kerman
Day 3: Kerman - Shahdad Desert
Drive to Shahdad, a small town named after the desert. Trekking (30km). O/N in camp
Day 4: Shahdad Desert - Kerman
In the morning trekking about 2 hours, then drive back to Kerman and rest in the hotel. Later, in the afternoon visit the bazaar of Kerman. O/N Kerman
Day 5: Kerman - Mahan - Rayan - Kerman
Drive to Mahan and visit the mausoleum of the great Iranian Sufist “Shah-Nematollah Vali”. Visit the loam citadel of Rayan which is similar to the destroyed citadel of Bam (destroyed in 2002 by an earth quick). O/N Kerman
Day 6: Kerman - Sarvestan - Shiraz
(580-Kilometer distance)
Morning toward Sarvestan to visit the Sasanid places. The Sarvestan Palace was built by the Sasanian king Bahramgur in the 5th century AD and was either a gubernatorial residence or a Zoroastrian fire temple. Then, we are going to Shiraz. O/N Shiraz
Day 7: Shiraz
We will visit the Eram Garden which was built during the middle of the thirteenth century. Besides, we visit Naranjestan Gardens with its outstanding tile working, mirroring, etc., which was built between 1879 and 1886 by Qavam Family and visit Nasir-ol-Molk Mosque. Then, toward Hafez and Saadi mausoleums who were 2 famous Persian poets in the world. Afterward, we will visit the Vakil mosque complex and the most astonishing mirror decoration of the Aliebnehamze Holy Shrine. O/N Shiraz
Day 8: Shiraz - Persepolis - Necropolis - Pasargadae - Yazd
(460 Kilometers distance)
Drive to Yazd, we depart from Shiraz via the Quran gate, 45 km north of Shiraz we stop at Persepolis the outstanding ceremonial palace of the Achaemenians (550BC) which is UNESCO heritage. At Necropolis, we see four tombs of Achaemenian kings high in the cliffs of limestone. Then, we continue through mountain scenery to visit Pasargadae another UNESCO heritage, the earliest Achaemenian capital where the tomb of Cyrus the Great is well preserved. Further, our route crosses central Iran to Yazd. O/N Yazd
Day 9: Yazd
Yazd is a very ancient city. Marco Polo wrote of the fine attributes of that city. It is like a living museum. We will visit narrow alleys, a bathhouse converted to a first-class restaurant, and see the high wind towers which form efficient cooling systems in this desert climate. Then, visit the Dowlat Abad gardens built in the 18th century for a former ruler. Later visit the Syed Jafer shrine, which is decorated with tens of thousands of mirror tiles illuminating the whole mosque. In addition, The Friday Mosque dates from the 14th century, and at a silk weaving workshop, we see exquisite brocades still being made on traditional looms and at last Athletic House (Zour Khaneh). O/N Yazd
Day 10: Yazd - Kharanagh - Robate posht badam - Biazeh - Mehrijan
We will visit the historical sites in Kharanagh, then the Caravan-Saray (Rabat) which was used by large groups of travelers and was a rest area for the travelers to eat, pray, sleep and give their beasts a break! Garmeh and Bayazeh villages are two typical oases (with a beautiful old castle) in the central desert. O/N in local house in Mehrijan
Day 11: Mehrijan - Khoor - Mesr - Farahzad
Walking on dunes and camel riding in Mesr Desert, other points of interest in this area of the estuary and the desert floor is Salt Lake, then to Farahzad rural village in northern Mesr, with beautiful palms that have been trapped by the dune. O/N in local house in Farahzad
Day 12: Farahzad - Jandagh - Choopanan - Anarak - Naiin - Isfahan
We will visit the castle, traditional brick cooking factory, two of the longest and deepest Qanats (subterranean water system) crossing each other, then Windward and carminative in Choopanan has a very clever design, dense texture and beautiful passages with TV, the seeds of a unique residential (one-story, two-floor, etc.), Gradient and reasonable settlement of the village, residential segregation of farms and their relationship, segmentation fields, and gardens. Then towards Isfahan, en route, we will visit Naein. O/N Isfahan
Day 13: Isfahan
In the morning, we will visit Naghshe Johan square, a huge open square in the center of Isfahan which is listed as a UNESCO heritage. The square periphery is marked by outstanding Safavid buildings which include the Ali Qapu palace, the Imam Mosque, the Sheikh Lotfollah (ladies) mosque, and to the north the expansive bazaar where we can see artisans crafting metal work, Persian miniatures, printing intricate designs on cloth and other activities. In the afternoon, we will visit Si-o-Se Pol (thirty-three arches) and Khajoo bridges spanning the Zayanderud River. Then, we will visit Music Museum. O/N Isfahan
Day 14: Isfahan - Natanz - Abyaneh
In the morning drive to the Armenian district Jolfa and visit the “Vank Cathedral”. Then, drive to the shaking minarets named “Monar Jonban”. We will leave Isfahan around noon, and drive to Abyaneh, which is a beautiful old village. En route we make a stop in the small town of Natanz, to visit an old mosque. O/N Abyaneh
Day 15: Abyaneh - Qamsar - Maranjab
After breakfast, drive to the Maranjab desert, en route having a stop in the small town of Qamar which is a center of rose water production in the middle east. Trekking about 10-20km in the Maranjab desert. Overnight in camp or a local house.
Day 16: Maranjab
We will trek about 30km through the Maranjab desert on this day. Overnight in camp or a local house.
Day 17: Maranjab - Kashan - Qom
Drive to Qom via Kashan. Visit the Fin Bathhouse and the Fin-garden of Kashan, the historical Sialk hills. In the afternoon drive to Qom which is the center of the Shiite theology school of Iran. The shrine of the sister of the 8th Shiite Imam is also in Qom. O/N Qom
Day 18: Qom - Departure
Transfer to the International Imam Airport for your departure flight from Iran.